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Ahhh….it’s Friday. The end of the week for many of us. Time to enjoy family togetherness and time to enjoy a new beverage concoction.

Today’s drink is provided by a woman who has influenced my outlook as a Mom and CEO of my household. Love her or hate her, there’s no denying the impact she’s had on women (and men, too!) in the last 20 + years. I unabashedly admit to her being one of my idols!

In recent news, it was announced that her show’s been cancelled. *sniff* But, I plan on keeping her spirit alive this weekend and bring you her Warm Vanilla Cider. I see a lot of additional calories in my future, but look how delicious it looks?! It looks absolutely perfect on a cold Winter night such as tonight. So, make up a batch after the kids have gone to bed, put a log on the fire, and snuggle up to your partner with this hot toddy!

And, by the way…where’s the rain? The snow? Come on Mother Nature, let’s get this Winter started!

Enjoy!

Warm Vanilla Cider

Ingredients:

6 Cups Fresh Apple Cider
2 TBLS Packed Brown Sugar
2 Whole Nutmeg Seeds
1 Vanilla Bean, split and scrapped
6 ounces (3/4 Cup) Bourbon, if desired
Whipped Cream

Directions:

Combine apple cider, dark brown sugar, nutmeg seeds, and vanilla bean in a medium sauce pan. Gently simmer over medium-high heat for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and add bourbon if desired. Remove and discard solids. Divide among 6 mugs or heat proof glasses. Top each with a dollop of whipped cream.

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In a quest to find out how I can re-purpose the constant flow of cereal boxes I recycle every week, I bring you my first edition of a series I’d like to call “Trash to Treasure.” I’m such a Pinterest fan and after doing some research online, I’ve found some simply amazing ways to turn our cereal boxes into some pretty darn amazing things! Here are just a few ideas I’m dying to try!

Check out this paper chandelier from Jellyfish Jelly!

Or this lantern from Choose to Thrive. She found this lantern in Ballard Designs and decided that rather paying the big bucks, she’d make one herself. Her tutorial is amazing!

Check out the picture mats Delightful Distractions. Yes, she’s using actual mats, but you could totally use the side of a cereal box!

I love this 3D Texas Star from Grey Luster Girl. Perfect for the 4th of July!

I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before (duh!), but I’m sure glad Patricia at A Little Hut did! So smart!

What about these gift boxes from Somewhat Simple?

Or these adorable gift boxes from Creative Jewish Mom? So cute!

How adorable would this wreath be in red, white, and blue for the 4th of July?! Brandy and Brandy’s Crafts shows you how easy it is to make.

Add some chic decor to your home with this sunburst mirror that Stephanie over at By Stephanie Lynn made. Beautiful!

Post cards! Really?! I would never have thought that you could make your own postcard out of a cereal box to mail?! Head on over to Infarrantly Creative and found out how easy they are to make. Perfect craft for your kids on a rainy day, I think?

While you’re there, check out their great notebook covers made from cereal boxes, too!

Look at what the Schneider family made over at Schneider Bucket. I love a good “catch all” area for those loose papers that need a home!

Disney Family Fun has made use of three cereal boxes by creating this fantastic paper storage for your desk or as a “catch all” for your papers on the kitchen counter!

And how fantastic is this mail organizer from Katydid & Kid?! I NEED one of these desperately!

From good ole’ Martha. An inspiration to my journey to “perfection”…I bring you desk organization. Perfect for a desk area for your children to do work at.

As we end our journey of cereal box crafts, I bring you to my favorite use of cereal boxes! I just love how clean these boxes look, don’t you?! You can find out how to make these fab boxes over at Urban Nest. Perfection.

So, before you throw those boxes out, bring out your inner Crafty Goddess and take the time to repurpose them in your home! Do you have any tricks that you use to recycle your cereal boxes?

Continue reading »]]> I had so much fun with this Holiday Challenge for The Krazy Coupon Lady! This theme is a perfect excuse to have friends and family over to relax and get in touch during the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season. Kids and adults alike love smore’s and you can wash them down with a chocolate ganache hot cocoa stick served in the most adorable Hot Cup of Cheer cups that are super easy to make!

You can find all of the recipes and tutorials exclusively on The Krazy Coupn Lady web site. Check it out and let me know what you think?!

Happy Holidays!

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What do you get when you mix maple syrup, brown sugar and pork loin? The perfect meal on a cold, chilly night.

Not only is it super delicious, it’s so easy.

We’re going to start by seasoning our pork loins with salt and fresh cracked pepper.

Don’t be stingy, either.

When they’re perfectly seasoned, place them into your crock pot.

Take a couple of cloves of garlic, chop ‘em up and put them in a small bowl.

Toss in the brown sugar, Dijon, honey, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar.

And, by the way, treat yourself to REAL maple sugar. Don’t use the high fructose corn syrup generic stuff.

You’ll thank me later.

Now mix them all together.

And dump it over every succulent inch of the seasoned pork loins.

Take a good look at them now because you won’t see them again for a long, long time.

But it’s totally worth it.

Because after those hours of the loins cooking down in that pool of delicious ingredients we dumped on top of it you’ll get…

this!

You’ll note that the meat was so tender and so moist that it was falling apart when I went to take it out of the crock pot!

Is your mouth watering yet?

Oh, just wait.

It gets better.

Take a strainer and place it over a small sauce pan.

Ladle the juices, bits and pieces into the strainer.

We’re about to make the most heavenly gravy to top our juicy pork loin.

Don’t mind bits in your gravy? Skip this step and go ahead and dump all of the drippings into the sauce pan. I prefer a smooth gravy and do this extra step, but I’m crazy like that. Am I alone?

In a small bowl, combine your cornstarch and water. We’re making a slurry to thicken our drippings with.

Pour in your slurry and start stirring away until you achieve a sauce thick enough to coat the back of your spoon.

And when it’s done…

smother it over every. single. piece. of. pork. loin.

Mmm…how divine does that plate of food look?!

You MUST try this dish tonight! It’s comfort food at it’s best!

Maple Brown Sugar Pork Loin

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Hello.

My name is Christa.

I am a Mother to 3 boys and a wife.

I love to entertain.

Like, a lot.

I mean a lot, a lot.

Like there’s usually something going on at my house, on average, every month. At least.

So, naturally, spills are bound to happen.

Like this one.

I don’t know how it got there?

Spilled juice?

Perhaps?

Spilled soda?

Yeah, probably so?

All I know is that it showed up and has been staring me in the face ever since!

We had a professional carpet cleaner come over to the house to clean it before my youngest sons birthday party this year. And, in hind site, I’m thinking “Why would I do that? It’s just going to get messy again, right?!”

In any case, the carpet cleaner came out and when all was said and done, he said that he wouldn’t be able to get the stain out. It was too embedded into the fibers.

*sigh*

So, I left it. For months I left it thinking it was a lost cause and we’d just have to face the facts that we’d need new carpet in a few years.

And then one day, while happily Pinning away one of my favorite inspirational sites Pinterest, I found this woman who had the same carpet stain and she cleaned it with, get this, things I already had in my kitchen!

Could it really be this easy? No. way.

I just had to try it!

Are you ready for the secret ingredients? They’re going to BLOW your mind!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Take a small bucket, Tupperware, whatever. Just get yourself a bowl.

2. 1 Tablespoon Dish Soap.

3. 1 Tablespoon White Vinegar.

4. 2 Cups Water.

5. 2, White Wash Cloths.

Directions: Mix all of those ingredients together. Soak your wash cloth in the liquid. Dab on spot. Scrub the stain with wash cloth and a little elbow grease. Wipe with dry wash cloth and voila!

You know you want to see the after shot, don’tcha?

Are you ready?

No seriously. It will BLOW your mind!

Is that nuts or what?!

I promise you, there’s NO trick photography!

Who knew that the every day items you have in your kitchen could fix ground in stains that a professional carpet cleaner couldn’t get out make them disappear so easily?!

I’m so inspired that I’m off to tackle the other carpet stains now!

Anyone else have some tips or tricks for getting out tough carpet stains? Happy cleaning!

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Anyone else loving this chilly nights we’ve been having?! Winter is my favorite season. Yes, I know it’s not Winter yet, but doesn’t it feel like it? Seems we went straight from Summer to Winter?! What happened to Fall? Brrr…

Perhaps I love this weather because where I live, we get snow once every few years so it’s a magical treat for us verses a nuisance to those that have to deal with it on a daily basis?

Perhaps it’s because I like to snuggle up to a warm fire? Who doesn’t love the sounds and smells of a great fire?!

Or, perhaps it’s because on cool nights, such as this, I am a sucker for a good, hearty bowl of soup like this Chicken Taco Chili? And, I’m a sucker for a good crock pot recipe, too.

I happen to love cooking from scratch, but there’s no denying the ease of a crock pot. I use mine all. the. time. Steel cut oatmeal, french dip sandwiches, soups, and even desserts. Yep. I love my crock pot for those days when scratch cooking seems like too much of a chore or I have too much going on.

Dump your canned beans in a strainer and rinse thoroughly. You could just dump the cans into the crock pot without rinsing them, but this is my preference.

I’m weird like that. Because, what is “stuff” that the beans are canned in? Is it just the natural starches of the beans mixing with the water it was canned in? Is it oil?

Whatever it is, it doesn’t belong in my soup.

Strain your corn and dump ‘em in.

Dump in your green chiles.

Pour in your tomato sauce.

You get the idea…

Dump…dump…dump…pour…pour…pour.

Dump in your cumin…

and your chili powder.

Add your taco seasoning.

Now, this can be a fabulous gluten-free recipe. Just omit the packaged taco seasoning I’m using here, and head over here to get a great gluten free taco seasoning recipe.

Add your diced tomatoes.

Add your onions and garlic.

You can use whatever kind of onion you happen to have on hand. Red, yellow, white – it doesn’t matter.

And, I realize that hard core foodies out there are going to gasp when I say this, but you can use jarred garlic. The horror!

Mix all of your ingredients up together, like so.

You could stop right here and have a vegan chili, actually.

It smells so good already!

Place your chicken breasts on top of your vegetable and spice mixture.

Cover your crock pot and set to low for 8-10 hours or on high for 6 hours.

Once the chickens been cooked, take it out, shred it and then add back to the crock pot to mix through.

Ladle it up and eat as is for a low-fat option or go gang busters and add shredded cheese, sour cream and tortilla strips like I did!

Warm, delicious, comfort food in a bowl!

Get your downloadable recipe Chicken Taco Chili. Enjoy!

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Thanksgiving is just around the corner so I thought it would be fun to spruce up the house with some Thanksgiving cheer! A HUGE thank you to my sister, Laurel, for making this Thanksgiving Subway Art for me and I’m so happy to share it with you!

You can choose from three different colors to go along with the colors of your Thanksgiving decor. Happy Thanksgiving, ya’ll!

Continue reading »]]> Are any of you Pinterest followers? I can’t pin point exactly how I was turned onto Pinterest, but let me tell you. I am addicted.

Addicted, I tell you.

Why? This site is perfect for someone like me.

Someone who loooooves to be inspired by other artists and crafters. Someone who is looking for inspiration to beautify your life. And, for someone like me who falls in love with an idea, bookmarks it, and then loses it because she didn’t organize it well enough to find it again.

Pinterest take all of the ideas you fall in love with for your home, your children, your life and organizes them into categories called “pinboards”. It took me a little bit to figure out exactly how it works, but once you do…oh. my. goodness. You’ll be addicted like me! There’s a waiting list to become a member; however, you can be invited by an existing member to join (for FREE, of course) if you’re too impatient to wait. And, while you’re there, feel free to “follow” me.

While I was on Pinterest today another member had pinned a blog that was all about how to clean and organize your house. There are a ton of great blogs out there that teach you how to clean and organize your house, but this one in particular caught my eye immediately. The claim was how to keep your house clean in 15 minutes a day! Let me say it again…15 minutes a day!!!

Seriously? Is it possible?

Let me break it down for you people. I have 3 kids. 3 BOYS.   And, perhaps some girls are just as dirty as boys, but let me tell you. These boys can trash a house in a matter of minutes. Seconds, really.

So, I strolled on over to Becky’s blog Organizing Made Fun to check out this crazy idea of keeping your house clean in such a short amount of time and wow. Just wow! I cannot t ell you how many times I’ve written out a schedule to keep my house clean and it has failed me only because I look at how long the list is. I look at the list and I’m immediately overwhelmed at how much house I have to clean. Can anyone relate?

No?

Okay…I’m a freak of nature, then.

Please. Do me a favor. Go check out Becky’s challenge here on how to organize your house in 20 days. I’m totally doing this and I am challenging YOU to take do it with me. Come on! We can do this!

Every day I’ll be posting updates and/or pictures of how well I did each day. And, I want to hear feedback from you, too! Join me as we concur the clutter in our homes!

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Pumpkin.

You either love it or hate it.

We live in a house divided when it comes to pumpkin.

When I came across this recipe from Recipe Girl, though, I had to try it.

Snickerdoodles are a household favorite of all of ours and I figured if everyone didn’t like them, then I could freeze them and take one out for a lunch time treat when the craving hit.

To my surprise, though, these cookies were a hit!

The pumpkin in the cookie is so subtle. It tastes more like a spice cookie. A sugar-y, cinammon-y delicious sugar cookie that you would expect in a snickerdoodle, but with an added kick from the allspice.

Trust me. This cookie packs a punch of Fall flavor that you’re craving!

Add your butter and sugar into a mixing bowl.

Cream them together until you achieve a light and fluffy mixture.

This’ll take ya about 4-5 minutes to achieve.

Scrape down the bowl now.

Get your pumpkin ready and…

dump it into your mixing bowl along with the butter and sugar.

Mix it just until everything combines.

Get your egg and vanilla ready to dump into the bowl.

This vanilla. Oh…this vanilla. My sister got it for me on her last trip to Mexico and it is the most delicious stuff ever.

It’s almost gone now, too.

I think I’ll have to take a trip to Mexico soon to get some more.

The trip is totally justifiable because the vanilla is that good. Seriously.

Dump your flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon into a separate mixing bowl and whisk together before adding it to your wet mixture.

Dump your dry mixture into your wet mixture.

Mix just until all of your ingredients come together.

Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure every bit gets mixed in evenly.

Cover up the dough and stick it in the fridge for about an hour until the mixture firms up.

While the dough’s in the fridge, dump your sugar, cinnamon and all spice into a small bowl.

Stir them all together.

Once your dough has chilled, take a 1 1/2 tablespoon ice cream scoop (as I’ve used here) or 2 spoons and place the rounded dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat.

I loooove my Silpat. I use it all the time for baking and cooking. It makes your baked goods come out perfect every time. No burnt bottoms and the clean up is super easy!

Pick up the dough you just put on the cookie sheet and give it a good roll around in your hands. It makes them more uniform when cooking, but you can absolutely skip this step if you don’t mind a rustic looking cookie.

Give your ball of dough a good roll in the sugar mixture making sure to coat it thoroughly.

Place your the cookies back on your cookie sheet pan being sure to allow about 2″ of space in between them.

Using the palm of your hand, smash the dough until flat.

I forgot this step the first time around and ended up with pumpkin snickerdoodle holes…oops!

Oh my. Just wait until you smell the aromas in your house!

Place into your pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 10-14 minutes. 14 minutes was perfect for me.

Oh. my. goodness.

This is the quintessential perfect Fall cookie. Your family is going to LOVE them.

In fact, it’s probably a good idea to make a few batches. They freeze like a dream and what a fantastic hostess gift to give the next time you’re out!

Enjoy!

Directions: